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7 of 10 abandoned puppies have found homes

This is one of 10 puppies found abandoned in a ditch between Thief River Falls and Goodridge, Minn.

THIEF RIVER FALLS - Seventy percent of the puppy litter found abandoned in a ditch east of Thief River Falls just before a blizzard have been adopted from the Pennington County Humane Society.

"We had people calling from all over, Grafton (N.D.), the Grand Forks, East Grand Forks area," said Dawn Williamson, operations manager of the Humane Society in Thief River Falls.

The story of the 10 puppies, 12 weeks old, left in a snowy ditch, brought some needed attention to an overflowing shelter, Williamson said. "We had seven adopted," she said. It was part of a flurry which she attributes to the attention the puppies' story has brought.

"We had 15 adoptions Saturday, including several cats and two of our 'regular' dogs," she said.

The 10 puppies appeared to be a mix of black Lab and collie and were healthy and well-fed, despite being dumped, Williamson said.

A "good Samaritan" noticed the puppies Jan. 21, the day before a big winter storm-then-blizzard hit, and the Pennington County Sheriff's Office delivered them to the already full shelter.

The adoption fee is $125, but the Humane Society, which requires each adoptee to be neutered, will pay as much as $103 toward that operation to the new owner. An investigation into who dumped the puppies hasn't turned up any names yet, Williamson said.